The Suffering (#4.07)

Big Finish, Companion Chronicles

Never
has there been a more appropriate title for a Big Finish story! This story has
a female alien who received brutal treatment by the men on her planet and is
looking for revenge on all men. This story starts with Vicki and Steven
“meeting” this alien then unraveling what is happening from there. Vicki has a
separate adventure from the Doctor and Steven for awhile then meets up with
them in London, when things really hit the fan! And this story is framed by
Steven and Vicki recording the story for future people to hear, in case
something similar happens in the future, which makes it particularly menacing
at the end.

I
really enjoyed this story and it really fits in the time it’s set. Though I do
wonder why Steven, Vicki, and the Doctor don’t protest the treatment of women
more. Vicki doesn’t really get treated badly by anyone but the policeman who
tries to arrest her. Plus there’s a whole overtone of women’s suffrage, which
fits into the era but feels a bit preachy at times. A reminder of how bad it
could be for women then! Amazing how women were treated like second class
citizens when they’re the majority of the population. Still are, in some
countries. Good story!